Tiger Woods and son are eight under par at the PNC Championship in Orlando following struggles with putting; Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron lead the way in Orlando
Tiger Woods is competing with his 14-year-old son, Charlie, and his 16-year-old daughter Sam on the bag as caddie for the first time – the only thing missing was enough birdies.
The 15-time major winner and his 14-year-old son combined for an eight-under-par 64 in the scramble format as Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron made an eagle and 13 birdies in their 57.
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“It couldn’t have been any more special for us,” Woods said after the first of two rounds in which they beat the worst of the rain and fell behind 10 other teams.
Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron led the way, building a three-shot lead over the teams of Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, David Duval and Retief Goosen.
Woods and his son were at eight under, leaning on Charlie’s booming drives even while having to move back a set of tees, with Woods delivering most of the approach shots and neither converting enough birdie chances.
“I drove the ball really good today,” Charlie said. “Didn’t miss a fairway and still managed to shoot eight under. We just suck at putting.”
That caused Woods to close his eyes and grin. “That sums it up right there,” he said.
On his daughter joining him on course for the first time, Woods said, “Sam was fantastic.
“This is the first time she’s ever done this, so it couldn’t have been any more special for all of us.
“For me to have both my kids inside the ropes like this and participating and playing and being part of the game of golf like this, it couldn’t have been more special for me.
“I know that we do this a lot at home, needle each other and have a great time.
“But it was more special to do it in a tournament like this.”
So much attention is on their similarities in their swings and other mannerism, but the needle and the trash talking is not to be overlooked.
Charlie Woods piped a drive on the fifth hole and waved it goodbye, as Justin Thomas could only watch and smile.
The 14-year-old also hit a big drive on the 11th, some 65 yards short of the green, hit wedge to a few feet and turned and shrugged.
The PNC Championship is restricted to 20 teams of major champions from any tour, or The Players Championship winners, and a family member.
Kuchar, a Players Championship winner, has played with both his sons. Carson is leaning more toward tennis while Cameron is all about golf.
The Woods will be paired with Steve Stricker and his daughter, Izzi, for Sunday’s final round in Orlando, live on Sky Sports Golf.
While golfers make history on the golf course, the team and individuals behind the scenes make sure that the players hit the perfect shit which stars in the news. On Essentially Sports’ FanCast Exclusive, the Iconic golf coach, Pete Cowen, shares tits and bits about making a major winner.
Pete Cowen has made legendary golfers like Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, and many more in his decade-long career. Cowen knows what makes and breaks a player. Following the topic of Rory McIlroy’s major championship drought, Cowen highlighted the chances of Tiger Woods clinching another major victory.
Pete Cowen’s claims Tiger Woods can still do it at the age of 50
Essentially Sports Noah Slack asked the legendary golfer about when will McIlroy end his 10-year drought. McIlroy won his last major in 2012 at the Open Championship. Since then, the 4x major winner has always been a few steps away from grabbing another win. Slack used the example of Tiger Woods, as he too won his 15th major after 10 winless years.
“He is one of the best players in the world.” However, McIlroy now has a tough competition, Brooks Koepka. As Cowen said, “Brooks has won five majors in the last six years, since 17. So all of a sudden Rory’s got players that are major winners.” McIlroy is trying his very best.
Koepka, even being a LIV golfer, has an exemption for the majors for the next five years. Speaking on the topic of major winners, Cowen dug up Phil Mickelson winning his last major at the age of 50 and said, “If Mickelson can win at 50 then Tiger Woods can win at 50.” Woods is nearing 50 and might make his comeback at the Augusta National next year.
Cowen describes the change success brings in players
Noah Slack asked Cowen about the nature of McIlroy, off the course as he has been in the news for raging and taking a strong stance against the LIV defectors. Cowen dedicated McIlroy’s caddie and best friend, Harry Diamond, to keeping in check and calming him behind the scenes. However, Cowen did confess the stark difference between young Rory and McIlroy at present. Cowen said, “The problem is, if you give a 20-year-old $50 million, are they gonna change? Of course, they change.”
Moreover, Cowen sort of warned the fans and said, “Admire your heroes from the far because when you get close to them, they surely disappoint you.” Cowen was speaking in the general sense of the fascination of the fans with their inspiration, particularly for McIlroy. Have you ever been disheartened with your hero? And do you believe Tiger Woods will win another major?
A rivalry that has been going on since the beginning of time, and will continue for eternity is one between parents and their teenage kids.
Something that even with his fortune, fame, and elite golfing ability Tiger Woods isn’t immune to. On Friday ahead of the PNC Championship in which he will be partnered with his son Charlie, Woods was asked if there is something that his son does that bothers him. The answer is one that just about every parent would say, which is how much Charlie is on his phone according to Sports illustrateds Bob Harig.
“I just don’t like the fact that he stares at his phone all the time,’’ Woods said. “Put your phone away and just look around. That’s one of the things that I think all parents struggle with is most kids don’t look up anymore. Everyone is looking down.”
He continued explaining that he feels as if his son is missing out on things around him by being on his phone.
“Look around you, the world is so beautiful around you, just look up,” said Woods. “But everyone is staring into a screen, and that’s how people view life. It drives me nuts at times because he’s always looking down and there’s so many things around you that are so beautiful at the same time.’’
The Woods duo will tee off at tee off at 8:22 a.m. on Saturday with Justin and Mike Thomas.
From “nasty” to adorable and downright mesmerizing interactions, the PNC Championship is becoming the ground for revealing the family-like relationship Tour pros share with each other. As the camera panned towards the Pro-Am session on Friday, many such moments were captured forever to be remembered by the public.
Out of all the memories made in the first session of Pro-Am, Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods’s hidden dynamic with each other and the rest of the field was the highlight of the day. The pair are making their 4th appearance at the family event and has already made the news for three major things surrounding their stay.
Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods take over the Ritz-Carlton GC
1. Will McGee interviewing Charlie Woods and his friendship with Woods Sr.: Although Woods Sr. had prevented Charlie Woods from the cameras and giving the press conference interview at the PNC Championship, the 14-year-old still managed to answer the question by Annika Sorenstam’s son, Will McGee.
The 12-year-old asked Charlie Woods on SiriusXM if he always listened to his father. McGee asked, “My mom was wondering because she gives me advice on my swing, but I don’t listen often. … Do you listen to your dad on swing tips?” To which Woods Jr. replied, “It doesn’t happen very often,” but only when he is “desperate”.
Moreover, McGee also shared an adorable moment with Woods. When McGee expressed his nervousness felt when playing at Tee 1, Woods replied by saying. “You should be… it means you care.” Additionally, when Sorenstam came to check on McGee and asked if he was listening to Woods, the legendary golfer said, “Other way around, I’m listening to him.”
2. Woods Sr. thoroughly impressed with Charlie Woods’s shot: Before the Friday Pro-Am commenced, Team Woods was warming up while taking a few shots. In one instance, Woods was stunned and quite impressed with his son’s shot.
Right after Woods Jr. took the practice shot, the 82X PGA Tour champion complimented him by saying, “We’re ending on that right there; that was nasty! ” The Woods was proud of his son’s shots so much so that he put down his club and started walking away as a gesture showing that he can’t hit better than that.
3. Witnessing Woods walking without struggling: Since his withdrawal from the 2023 Masters in April and surgery thereafter, Woods was making the news, as he was seen struggling while walking and usually was limping. However, in recent times the 82x PGA Tour champ has shown tremendous recovery and could be seen walking normally.
Buckle up golf fans: Tiger Woods is teeing it up again this weekend.
The greatest of all time will be playing alongside his son, Charlie Woods, in the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. The tournament pairs 20 major winners with a teammate from their family—children, parents, grandparents—creating one of the most enjoyable spectacles of the golf year.
Charlie Woods will undoubtedly once again be the center of attention after he turned heads at previous PNC Championships for his uncanny replication of his father’s infamous mannerisms.
Fans will get their first look at Team Woods at the Pro-Am on Friday, before teeing off in the opening round of the event alongside Team Thomas—Justin Thomas and his father Mike Thomas—on Saturday, Dec. 16, playing off the first tee at 8:22 a.m. ET.
Tee times were moved to the early morning in response to inclement weather. The forecast calls for high winds and rain on both Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, Saturday’s live action will be available to stream on Peacock in the morning hours. Coverage will be broadcast on a tape delay in the afternoon on NBC.
Times and TV networks for all the action from the golf weekend are as follows.
Friday, Dec. 15: Pro-Am
12-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
First tee:
- 8:00 am – Lee Trevino and Daniel Trevino
- 8:20 am – Padraig Harrington and Ciaran Harrington
- 8:40 am – Steve Stricker and Izzi Stricker
- 9:00 am – Annika Sorenstam and Will McGee; Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods
- 9:20 am – Justin Thomas and Mike Thomas
- 9:40 am – Nelly Korda and Petr Korda
- 10:00 am – Matt Kuchar and Cameron Kuchar
- 10:20 am – Vijay Singh and Qass Singh
Tenth tee:
- 8:00 am – Mark O’Meara and Shaun O’Meara
- 8:20 am – Retief Goosen and Leo Goosen
- 8:40 am – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer
- 9:00 am – John Daly and John Daly II
- 9:20 am – Nick Price and Greg Price
- 9:40 am – David Duval and Brady Duval
- 10:00 am – Tom Lehman and Sean Lehman
- 10:20 am – Stewart Cink and Reagan Cink
Saturday, Dec. 16: First Round
8:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. ET (Peacock)
2:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC)
First tee:
- 7:30 a.m ET – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer; Stewart Cink and Reagan Cink
- 7:43 a.m ET – Annika Sorenstam and Will McGee; Padraig Harrington and Ciaran Harrington
- 7:56 a.m ET – Vijay Singh and Qass Singh; Retief Goosen and Leo Goosen
- 8:09 a.m ET – Nelly Korda and Petr Korda; Steve Stricker and Izzi Stricker
- 8:22 a.m ET – Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods; Justin Thomas and Mike Thomas
Fans have reacted to John Daly comparing Donald Trump’s golf chip to that of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s chip. In the most recent episode of Tucker Carlson’s show, the American golfer made an appearance and talked about the golf prowess of former US President Donald Trump.
Daly disclosed that Trump used to chip like Woods and Mickelson when he was the then-president’s coach. Discussing Trump’s golf game, Daly acknowledged that the former president struggled with his chip but hit it like Phil or Tiger upon being corrected. However, as soon as they stopped practicing, Trump reverted to his poor golfing abilities.
Speaking about Trump’s chip, Daly said:
“I got work with his chip a little bit, but he hits it good. He putts it good. We just got to work on his chip.”
The host asked him what was wrong with Trump’s chipping game. In response, Daly said:
“He just has to keep them. Got to move the ball up. Everybody thinks that when you chip, you’re going to move it back. You actually need to move it up a little bit. If don’t see him for a while, he goes back to bad habits again.”
On being asked about the improvements in Trump’s game after Daly corrected him, he said:
“He chips it like Tiger or Phil,” said Daly.
NUCLR Golf shared the interview clip on its X (formerly Twitter) account with a caption saying:
“John Daly talked to @TuckerCarlson about Donald Trump’s golf game: “He chips it like Tiger or Phil” (when John coaches him) + “We could have an 8 some with him & we’re done in 3 hours.” John on if Bill Clinton ever cheated while golfing “Oh yeah!!”
Fans took to the comments section to write:
“Tiger and Phil must shank a lot of camera”
“Because John Daly is the most honest person. Give me a break,” commented another user.
“A group of clowns,” wrote a fan.
Tiger Woods will play the Hero World Challenge later this month, his first PGA TOUR start since undergoing ankle surgery in the spring.
The 82-time TOUR winner announced his commitment Saturday on Instagram. The Hero World Challenge will be contested Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at Albany, Bahamas.
Woods has held a spot for himself at the Hero World Challenge in the past. The initial field release included only 19 players, leading to speculation that the last spot could again be earmarked for Woods if his recovery progressed.
It appears that was the plan. Momentum was building for Woods’ return. He was on-site pre-tournament at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, contested at the Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante. While in Mexico, Woods visited with contemporaries including Stewart Cink – who revealed to Golf Channel’s George Savaricas that Woods said he had returned to practice, opining that Woods was in “go mode.” A few days later, Woods walked and caddied 54 holes for son Charlie at the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship.
Woods hasn’t competed since undergoing ankle surgery in late April, shortly after withdrawing from the Masters during the third round due to plantar fasciitis. The 15-time major winner was seen chipping at Liberty National in September, and a video was captured of Woods hitting balls at The Hay, the short course Woods designed at Pebble Beach, during the TGR Jr. Invitational in October.
Woods has made five TOUR starts since a 2021 car accident in which he suffered multiple breaks in his right tibia and fibula and damaged his feet. He has made the cut four times but completed 72 holes just twice; walking has proven understandably difficult, particularly on uneven terrain. Woods has shown improvement in recent weeks and recently told the Associated Press, “my ankle is fine,” adding “that pain is completely gone. It’s the other areas that have been compensated for.”
Woods has not yet committed to play the PNC Championship, Dec. 14-17, with Charlie. Tiger and Charlie Woods have paired in the last three editions of the PNC Championship, a two-player best-ball event that allows competitors to use carts. Team Woods finished seventh in 2020, second in 2021 and eighth in 2022.
The PNC Championship appeared to be a natural, easy-going place to make his return, given the ability to use a cart and its scramble format. Instead, Woods opted to throw himself right back into PGA TOUR competition against an elite field.
Lucas Glover and Justin Rose were also announced as Hero World Challenge exemptions on Saturday, replacing Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
Charlie Woods has accomplished a feat even his legendary father didn’t manage at a high school tournament in Florida.
Tiger provided a surprise fitness update earlier this month after being spotted caddying for Charlie in each round of the Notah Begay Junior Golf National Championship.
The 47-year-old has revealed that the “the pain is completely gone” in his ankle following subtalar fusion surgery in the wake of his withdrawal from April’s Masters.
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He did admit he was “pretty sore after caddying for four days” during that event and was not on bag duties this week, instead watching on from the sidelines at the Florida High School State Championship.
Woods Jr finished the event at the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Orlando in T26 in the individual standings after rounds of 78 and 76.
But his Benjamin School boys team sealed their fourth title in the FHSAA Class A State Championship, with a clip now going viral of the 14-year-old holing a chip shot and celebrating with a trademark Woods fist-pump on the final day.
Charlie now holds the honour of being a high school state champion, but Tiger never won a similar crown during his time at Western High School as the California Interscholastic Federation did not host the tournament when he was a student.
While Charlie is a Florida High School Athletic Association Class A state champion, Tiger, 47, never had the opportunity to win the state title at Western High School because the California Interscholastic Federation at that time did not hold state championships.
Tiger has been spotted carrying the bag for Charlie on multiple occasions during his latest rehabilitation period.
It is unclear yet when he will return to tournament action himself, but there is growing excitement that he could make a return before the year is out, either at the Hero World Challenge or the PNC Championship.
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He was seen hitting full shots in October for the first time since his surgery and Stewart Cink claimed his former Ryder Cup teammate was in “go-mode” as he steps up his recovery.
A spot is still remaining in the field for the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas at the end of this month, a tournament which Woods hosts.
However, a return in 2023 appears most likely at the PNC Championship, the team event in Orlando where he has played alongside Charle for the past three years.
Tiger Woods’ son Charlie Woods is following in his famous footsteps. The teen won in his age division at a recent golf tournament, and his dad showed his support by serving as his caddie.
When it comes to golf, Tiger Woods‘ son Charlie Woods is really getting into the swing of things.
In fact, the 47-year-old pro recently showed his support by serving as the 14-year-old’s caddie at the Notah Begay III Jr. Golf National Championship’s Last Chance Regional in Florida.
Charlie won in the boys’ 14-15 division—advancing him to the national championships—and he made sure to take some pointers from his dad.
“It’s great,” the teen told NB3JGNC’s Ryan Burr about having Tiger with him on the green. “We just stay in our own little world, and we just take it one shot at a time. He puts me in my place. I’ll talk about the next tee shot, and he’s like, ‘No, this is the shot we’re gonna focus on. Focus up. This is what we’re gonna do.'”
And he wasn’t the only one excited to see the 15-time major champion there. Fellow golf dad Shane Croft, whose son Chase also competed in the qualifier, called the day “EPIC.”
“Chase was paired with Tiger Woods’ son Charlie at the Notah Begay tournament at Mission Inn,” he wrote in part of an Instagram post. “Tiger and I were the boys’ caddies. Honestly, there is no way to express what this was like. Four hours one on one with Charlie and Tiger was just unreal.”
This isn’t the first time fans have seen Tiger and Charlie on the course together. The father-son duo also spent time on the green at the 2022 PNC Championship in December.
And Tiger—who shares Charlie and daughter Sam Woods, 16, with ex-wife Elin Nordegren—has spoken about bonding with his son over golf.
“Any time I get a chance to spend time with my son it’s always special,” he told the Golf Channel in December. “And to do it in a competitive forum for us, the last couple years have been magical.”